A recent discussion got me and a few other beer blogging doctors talking about who has had the greatest influence in our beer lives. It was interesting to see the names brought up, so we decided to flesh it out over something longer than a Facebook comment. Without further ado, I present to you my Mount Rushmore of beer.

Jim Koch – Growing up on the East coast, Jim Koch and Sam Adams undoubtedly had the biggest influence on my early craft beer life. Though Sam Adams’ influence may have waned now (much to Koch’s dismay), whenever we wanted a break from Keystone Light in college it was Boston Lager, Octoberfest, or Winter Lager that we reached for. Without these accessible beers – which are still good! – I may have never taken a look at beverages from smaller, local breweries like Flying Fish and Victory all those years ago.

Ken Grossman – Ken and Sierra Nevada may have come before Jim Koch and Sam Adams in the craft beer historical timeline, but they’re placing second here. When I was first getting into beer I’ll admit that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale wasn’t for me. Now that couldn’t be further from the truth – it’s a true classic. However, they didn’t just stop there and stubbornly remain stuck in their ways. Sierra Nevada and Ken Grossman have continued to evolve with the craft beer culture, and their last three releases (Hoppy Lager, Nooner Pilsner, and Hop Hunter) have all been on point as far as I’m concerned. Their Beer Camp is a fantastic idea, and they took it to the next level collaborating with 12 breweries last year. Sierra Nevada is an icon of the past and present, and Ken is someone I admire in both business and brewing.

Jimmy Carter – Regardless of your stance on politics, Jimmy Carter made one undeniably great decision for the future of beer back in 1979. With the passage of HR 1337 it became legal to brew up to 200 gallons of beer free of excise taxes for personal and family use. Months later the Brewers Association and American Homebrewers Association were founded, and thus began the slow rise of craft beer.

All that is great, but here’s why it pushes Carter into my personal top four. I liked beer before I started brewing, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. However, once I started brewing I truly began to appreciate beer. I gained first hand experience in the difficulties and nuances of brewing, and how hard it was to create a genuinely great tasting beer. There are innumerable variables to consider with each batch, and that’s just at the five gallon level. Brewing is very much an art form, and I don’t know if I’d have a full understanding of that had I not been able to brew at home.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae – Another lesson I’ve taken from homebrewing is that brewers can only do so much, namely create a sugary, hoppy soup. The rest is up to our yeasty boys, usually out of the S. cerevisiae family. It’s our job to keep them comfortable while they work, for without them there’d be no beer, and that’s just not a world I want to live in.

This post is part of multiple essays from Mid-Atlantic beer bloggers discussing those they believe should be remembered for all time thanks to the influence they’ve made on the beer drinking world. Make sure to check out these posts, too:

]]>https://dasalehaus.com/2015/03/05/mount-beermore/feed/5Beer Mount Rushmore BeermoredasalehausMount BeermoreDrink Up N00bhttps://dasalehaus.com/2014/08/14/drink-up-noob/
https://dasalehaus.com/2014/08/14/drink-up-noob/#commentsThu, 14 Aug 2014 16:55:53 +0000http://dasalehaus.com/?p=1589Continue reading →]]>This is the fourth in a series of posts offering a word of advice to anyone new to craft beer. So far we’ve heard from Doug at Baltimore Bistros and Beer, Jake at Hipster Brewfus, and Oliver at Literature and Libation.

Anyone’s first foray into craft beer can be an intimidating thing. I remember going into my first liquor store that took craft seriously and being completely overwhelmed by the selection they offered. Shelves lined with bombers and six packs, an entire aisle dedicated to their mix-a-six selection, more beer than I would have ever thought existed. I’m pretty sure I ended up taking home a pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale just because I had no idea where to start. Hell, I still have no idea what I want when I go to the store most of the time. So, with myriad beer choices available, how does one know where to start? You don’t. So drink up.

Line ’em up and knock ’em back.

Sure, you can read Beer Advocate and Rate Beer reviews, trawl the internet for recommendations, or even just chat with a bartender, but the only way to really discover what beer you’ll like is to try it. Think you like IPAs? Have a few more, and expand your palate from there. Looking for something milder? Go for a wheat beer or amber ale. More into wine? See if saison is up your alley. Try something new every time you go out to get a good feel for what it is that your taste buds enjoy. Once you know what you enjoy, push those boundaries. You just may find a new favorite style. Are those wheat beers all starting to taste the same? Look for a Berliner Weisse to throw your mouth for a loop. Whatever you do, just keep drinking. Within reason, of course.

One last piece of related advice for you, new craft beer drinker. Don’t get frustrated. You’re going to run into some duds along the way; more than you should. You’re going to have certain styles that you just don’t like. You’re going to have hyped beers that really have no way to live up to the expectations that have been built for them. All of this is okay, a part of the process really. You can’t truly know what you do enjoy without finding out what you dislike as well. The yin to your beer yang. But don’t let those beers get in the way of the good stuff. Just keep drinking what you like, and trying what you have never seen before. As the old cliché goes, the best beer is always the one in your hand.

Next up in this series of advice for those new to craft beer is Bryan of This is Why I’m Drunk. Look for his post tomorrow.

What are some other words of advice? Check out theses posts to find out what my fellow Mid-Atlantic beer bloggers think:

Doug from Baltimore Bistros and Beer: CraftJake from Hipster Brewfus: PatienceOliver from Literature and Libation: ReciprocateBryan from This Is Why I’m Drunk: LiveJosh from Short On Beer: JourneyLiz from Naptown Pint: RelaxSean from Brewkeep: You

]]>https://dasalehaus.com/2014/08/14/drink-up-noob/feed/9Craft Beer Line UpdasalehausCraft Beer Line UpSession #90 – Beer Fighthttps://dasalehaus.com/2014/08/02/session-90-beer-fight/
https://dasalehaus.com/2014/08/02/session-90-beer-fight/#respondSat, 02 Aug 2014 14:06:53 +0000http://dasalehaus.com/?p=1578Continue reading →]]>The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, is an opportunity once a month for beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. Each month, a different beer blogger hosts the Session, chooses a topic and creates a round-up listing all of the participants, along with a short pithy critique of each entry. Hipster Brewfus was in charge of this month’s andhe chose Beer Fight Club.

Round 1 – Let’s Get Ready to Rumble
Beer is a wonderful thing, there’s no denying it. The elixirs created with just grain, hops, water, and yeast are bordering on sorcery at this point. The breadth of styles and flavors now available is unprecedented in the long history of our favorite beverage. And the internet has made it easier than ever for anyone to communicate their thoughts on all of it, including myself.

Rounds 2, 3, and 4 – Coming Out Swinging
Das Ale Haus initially got its start as a place for me to log my homebrewing experiences for future reference, and with the hope that someone would find my writing useful. As my brewing got more in depth and my understanding of beer grew I expanded the blog to include beer reviews, the likes of which you’ve undoubtedly seen on 100 other beer blogs. I joined great people who shared my hobby, both in person and online. I was checking out #beerchat on Twitter, frequenting /r/beer and /r/homebrewing, becoming a Congressional doctor, going to events, really doing anything I could to get involved. Every time I had a beer I found myself taking notes, adding it to the mental queue of posts to be written and published. I was taking a critical look at every sip, analyzing every drop, for better or worse. The times, they were exciting.

Rounds 5 and 6 – OverexertionAs my palate and Untappd list expanded I began hunting beer, searching out one offs, calling stores to see what was in, beginning to remember delivery schedules. The “to be written” list grew to an unmanageable size, and my daily beer reading began to eat away at time spent on life. Beer was gradually becoming more than a hobby – it was a job, and one I was paying to go to.

Rounds 7, 8, and 9 – Exhaustion Sets In
So I slowly backed off. I wrote about not doing traditional reviews, or any reviews, anymore. I stopped trying to post on a schedule, cranking out content for content’s sake. I stopped buying every new beer I could get my hands on. I stopped taking notes on every single thing I tried. I cut back on the reading and even discussion to an extent. I dropped the silly notion of trying to make it in beer, whatever the hell that means. I had to separate myself from the role beer had begun to take in my life. And now, I’ve begun to really enjoy beer again.

Round 10 – Don’t Call it a Comeback
Though I hate using the term “beer community”, I really love the people involved in it. As a beer blogger, by the loosest definition of the term, I’m excited to be involved. However, the work behind the scenes was starting to take a toll on the enjoyment of the process. It became a mental fight to get work done, with a nagging thought in the back of my head whenever I did anything beer related. Did I need content for the blog? How could I make the post original, not just another dull review? Is what I write even going to be worth reading? These questions have been coming at me for months, hitting me to the point that I wanted to tap out. It’s not my style to quit though, there’s still fight left in me. The bout between hobby and work is an ongoing one, but one I’m finally starting to turn back in my favor. A change of tactics and fresh ideas were needed to reverse the flow of the fight, and it has given me the advantage I was looking for.

]]>https://dasalehaus.com/2014/08/02/session-90-beer-fight/feed/0The Session LogodasalehausThe Session LogoFriday 5@5 – May 9, 2014https://dasalehaus.com/2014/05/09/friday-55-may-9-2014/
https://dasalehaus.com/2014/05/09/friday-55-may-9-2014/#respondFri, 09 May 2014 21:00:47 +0000http://dasalehaus.com/?p=1571Continue reading →]]>Two great events are going down today, Friday, to start the weekend. Over atJoe Canal’s West Deptfordis Divide and Bacher, a dueling tap takeover featuring, you guessed it,Great DivideandWeyerbacher. Round 1 was last night at the Pour House, and they’re finishing it off at Canal’s today.Bobkat Liquorsin regular Deptford is celebrating the second birthday of their growler station with giveaways, discounts, and a solid tap list, so be sure to check them out if you’re in the area. Cheers!

1) I had a good conversation with Mike Langone ofHopboxthis week, they’re doing some pretty cool things for homebrewing there. They’ve built a small, attractive brew kit for people who are looking to get started brewing or are just limited on space. Their kickstarter funded, so it’s full boil ahead for them.

3) Cantillon apparently ages beer in a bomb shelter, with plans to keep beer for up to 30 years to see how it holds up and changes. Check outDrink Belgian Beerfor some jealousy inducing photos.

4) Gizmodo and Six Point have done the most Brooklyn thing ever and teamed up tobrew a beer with a hop you’ve never heard ofbefore. In their first post about the beer brewed with it, Hop Tech 431, they take a look at how the hop, or any new varietal, came to be. It’s an interesting behind the scenes peek at hop growing.

2. Ever wonder how to drink all night without getting drunk? This may seem to defeat the purpose, but according to Jim Koch the secret is in the yeast. According to me, I’m calling BS.

3. There’s a petition going around to change NJ’s growler laws to be more liquor-store friendly. Honestly, it’s one of the better written Change.org petitions I’ve seen, though that’s a low bar to jump.

4. The Picobrew Zymatic is apparently getting closer to launch, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Something about the entire system just feels…wrong.

Have you ever felt there was too little testosterone around when you were opening a beer? A distinct lack of Y chromosome involved in removing a crown cap from your bottle? Are these ridiculous questions?

If you’ve struggled with either of the first two questions above, you’re in luck. Dubbed as the manliest bottle opener evar the Bottle Wrench is, well, a bottle opener made from a wrench. An actual, no-longer-secures-nuts-and-bolts wrench. A unique bottle opener to be sure, but manly? I was skeptical, so I decided to put the Brawny of bottle openers to some household tasks that I, a man, took on over the weekend. Let’s go to Mo for the results – MO!

Mowing the LawnPros: Opened my beer. Was shiny in the sun.Cons: Did not mow the lawn. Probably would have broken the blade had it gotten in the way.Result: Useless. Though, note that it successfully opened my beer. This is important, as we’re talking about a bottle opener.

Raking Leaves and TwigsPros: Opened my beer. Hit pebbles when swung like a bat.Cons: Raked approximately zero leaves. Hid amongst the sticks (and rake) as a game.Result: Useless, but again, note the opening of a beer. Critical here.

Cuddling with the MaxPros: Opened my beer. Max didn’t run when I laid the Bottle Wrench there and started taking pictures.Cons: None. Look at him!Result: Adorable. And it opened my beer.

The results were indisputable – the Bottle Wrench is about as much help in the yard as the moles currently tearing up my lawn. However, as a bottle opener, I must say I’m a fan. Even though it may have failed the assigned tasks, it did open every bottle presented to it – with minimal cap damage. It had better leverage than a keychain opener, and is definitely a conversation starter. A nice little addition to any collection, and that’s where I’d like to help you out.

Jake from The Bottle Wrench (who, in full disclosure, sent me a sample for this review) would like to give an opener away to you, my occasional reader. To enter just follow the image link below to my brand new contest page and have at it.

I swear it’s legit, WordPress just doesn’t play nice with these contests.

If you’d like more information on The Bottle Wrench you can check out their website, www.TheBottleWrench.com, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Here’s what Jake had to say about the Bottle Wrench:

The Bottle Wrench StoryLike most great ideas, the Bottle Wrench came out of a problem. Being tired of having to use the wife’s wine bottle opener to crack a cold one the decision was made to come up with something tougher, stronger, and manlier. A few hours (and drinks) later the original Bottle Wrench was born. Soon after, people started asking about the new opener and wanted to know where they could buy their own. We opened our online shop in 2011 and have been growing ever since.

What is the Bottle Wrench?The Bottle Wrench is the manliest bottle opener you’ll ever own. Each Bottle Wrench is hand formed in Savannah, GA from a real, 100% metal wrench. Our motto is that it’s a wrench first and a bottle opener second. Each one comes with a U.S. military grade 550-paracord strap for hanging the Wrench on display with many colors to choose from. Attached to the 550-paracord is a tag telling the Bottle Wrench story. Each Wrench is between 5.5″-6.5″ long in the “Original” size and 4.5″-5″ in the “Key Chain Size”.

2) Some dark and terrible days are coming for Florida. A bill that would require brewers to sell their beer to a distributor TO THEN BUY BACK AND SELL AT THE BREWERY has passed the state senate. Hey, Cigar City, if you want to move your operations somewhere else, NJ has been doing a great job of helping brewers out recently.

3) Stone is introducing a saison that I’m sure would have been great, but they couldn’t leave well enough alone. They added habanero to it. I want refreshingness (totally a word) from my saisons, dammit.

4) The guys from New Belgium did a pretty awesome AMA on /r/homebrewing this week. They even listed out the ingredients for Fat Tire to engineer a recipe from, so it’s only a matter of time before someone gets the exact clone done.

5) The FDA listened to the outcry from brewers over proposed animal feed regulations and will clarify the language in a new proposal on “manufacturing, processing, packing, and holding of animal food.”

– The Atlantic City Beerfest (and music festival featuring Saves the Day, Dirty Heads, and Less than Jake) is upon us once again, and this thing just keeps getting bigger and bigger . So big, in fact, that over at New Jersey’s own Beer-Stained Letter they put together this infographic to keep track of it all. Check it out:

– Forgotten Boardwalk named their head brewer, David Bronstein most recently of Sly Fox. I gotta get me one of their keys this weekend!

– New Jersey Craft Beer will be hosting a seminar during each AC Beerfest session, so check them and their NJ collab beer out.

]]>https://dasalehaus.com/2014/04/04/friday-5-at-5-ac-beerfest-edition/feed/12014 AC Beerfestdasalehaus2014 AC BeerfestLet’s Play a Gamehttps://dasalehaus.com/2014/04/01/lets-play-a-game/
https://dasalehaus.com/2014/04/01/lets-play-a-game/#commentsTue, 01 Apr 2014 13:00:31 +0000http://dasalehaus.com/?p=1489Continue reading →]]>As you may have noticed, beer reviews can get a bit…creative…when it comes to describing any aspect of a beer. It’s something I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of at one point or another, but when it comes to highly sought after beers the reviews can get out of hand. With that in mind, and in the spirit of April Fool’s Day, I’d like to play a little game.

Below are 5 snippets of reviews, only some, or all, or none of which are true. Can you pick out which are the real quotes?

1. “It gets a little weird for me on the swallow, though – that’s when this weird astringent, minerally, medicinal flavor comes in that I’m not really crazy about. It tastes kind of like if you crushed up some rocks and mixed it in water maybe?”

2. “They should just call this an exceptional IPA and stop with the pageantry. Sure, you have the malts and all this yeast run around but I feel it is like when they put glasses and a ponytail on a really hot girl to set her out as a nerd.”

3. “Pouring a jet engine black into my snifter, this massive smoked stout came across the nose like a discarded Starbucks cup left over a homelessman’s trash can stove for the day. Beechwood (or possibly cardboard) BBQ dominated the palate, futilely backed up by arabica and left-in-the-summer-sun chocolate.”

4. “The flavor is a mildly biscuity, not too complex vehicle that delivers a two-trailer 18-wheeler of hop resin down your throat. … At alternating intervals as I drank this, I detected lingering notes as far off as juniper, grapefruit, lemon zest, maplewood sawdust, hash, macaroons, and cinnamon.”

5. “The color was like looking into a burning fire, and the woodsy aroma of the hops reminds me of a bonfire in a glass.”

Got all that? Good. Scroll to see the answers.

1. Actual review. This comes from a review of Cantillon Gueuze on Beer Advocate. For the actual reviews I picked beers I’ve had before so I could compare what they were saying to what I tasted. I’m not sure powdered rock is what I would have gone with there, but I don’t know what rock mixed in water like Crystal Light tastes like, so who am I to say?

2. This may surprise you, but actual review. It comes from Don’t Drink Beer, a complete take down of the inner rings of craft beer circlejerking, but still a legitimate (and entertaining) review of Troegs Nugget Nectar. By the way, for someone who mocks whale hunting so much he sure is good at it.

3. Not an actual review. This is just how I imagine we as a collective sound while describing beer to our friends who don’t give a shit at 1 AM on a Saturday night.

4. Actual review. This comes from a review of Surly Abrasive on Beer Advocate. The maplewood sawdust is what got me. It’s so specific, I can just imagine the reviewer sitting there going through the different types of wood they for some reason have inhaled before finally settling on maple.

So of the five, three (fine, four) were actual sentences written about beer. Isn’t language so much more fun taken out of context? Sometimes I can’t help but think that brewers are in on a joke that us consumers aren’t.

]]>https://dasalehaus.com/2014/04/01/lets-play-a-game/feed/25 Beer Reviewsdasalehaus5 Beer ReviewsFriday 5@5: March 28, 2014https://dasalehaus.com/2014/03/28/friday-5at5-march-28-2014/
https://dasalehaus.com/2014/03/28/friday-5at5-march-28-2014/#commentsFri, 28 Mar 2014 21:00:44 +0000http://dasalehaus.com/?p=1485Continue reading →]]>Next week is the latest edition of The Sessions, this time focusing on beer media. Hopefully I can collect my thoughts in a coherent matter, because this seems like a dandy. Until then, enjoy the weekend – cheers!

1. Look, I like Milton Glaser. His Dylan poster is a design icon, and he was one of the most fun to learn about in college when I was pretending I was good enough to be a graphic designer in the ad industry. Te New York Times decided to get him to talk about beer labels, and I still can’t figure out if I like his critiques or not.

2. In another New York Times story they profiled the twin brothers behind two of the more expensive breweries, Mikkeller and Evil Twin. I enjoyed this, even though it portrayed them as gods, and it even features NJ’s own Carton Brewing in Jeppe’s photo.

3. Not necessarily beer, but hops count to me. Valenzano’s Bine & Vine, a wine dry hopped with Citra thanks to the mad genius of Mike Jones, was featured on Philly.com. Safe to say this is the first wine I’ve ever sought out.